Jill Biden announces $500 million for women's health research

New York (AFP) – US First Lady Jill Biden on Monday announced the Pentagon will spend $500 million annually to advance women's health research, as part of a broader White House push.

"The Department of Defense has now committed half a billion dollars to women's health, to women in the service, which then transcends to all women," said Biden at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting.

"This money is going to study arthritis and chronic fatigue and cardiovascular health -- it's a big deal, and it's about time," added the 73-year-old, who spoke alongside Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former president Bill Clinton.

In a statement, the Department of Defense said the investment was vital to meeting the critical needs of women under its care -- including 230,000 on active duty, two million women military retirees, and their family members.

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"Compared to men, this population experiences more than twice the rate of conditions in hematological, genitourinary, endocrine, nutrition, and immunity-related disorder categories," it said.

The move comes after President Joe Biden in March signed an order aimed at closing gender gaps in clinical trials and care and directing $200 million in the fiscal year 2025 towards a new Fund on Women's Health.

Medical research has long overlooked the specific needs of women, and it wasn't until 1993 that Congress passed a law mandating female participation in government-sponsored clinical trials.